JACKSON - The Belhaven Softball team used their offensive firepower and late-inning heroics to go 2-0 in a Saturday slate against Hardin-Simmons and Centenary.
Game One: Belhaven 9, Hardin-Simmons 7
The Blazers wasted no time setting the tone offensively. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch put two aboard in the bottom of the first, Melissa Lopera launched a three-run home run to left center to give BU an early 3-0 advantage. Maryanna Guy followed with a solo blast to left center, extending the lead to 4-0 before the Cowgirls recorded the third out.
Hardin-Simmons responded with three runs in the third inning, capitalizing on four hits and a Belhaven error to cut the deficit to 4-3. Belhaven added an unearned run in the fourth when Grace Langston singled and later scored on a throwing error to push the lead to 5-3.
The Cowgirls surged ahead in the fifth, stringing together five hits to plate four runs and take a 7-5 advantage. Facing a two-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh, the Blazers mounted their biggest rally of the young season.
Ellie Williamson opened the frame with a single up the middle and was replaced by pinch runner Maddie Keller. Lopera continued her strong day at the plate with a double to left center, scoring Keller to trim the lead to 7-6. After a walk to Guy and a pitching change, Kaleigh Steverson stepped to the plate and delivered the decisive blow — a three-run home run to left field — to seal the 9-7 walk-off victory.
Steverson finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Lopera drove in four runs, including the early three-run homer and the seventh-inning RBI double. Guy added a home run and reached base twice.
In the circle, Karley Rouse made the start before LBÂ Nesmith earned the win in relief, tossing 2.1 shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out two to close out the contest.
Belhaven totaled nine hits in the win and showcased resilience down the stretch to secure the dramatic home victory.
Game Two: Belhaven 14, Hardin-Simmons 1
The Blazers' offense stayed hot in the second game, exploding for 18 hits in a five-inning run-rule victory over Centenary.
Belhaven struck first in the opening inning. Melissa Lopera doubled and later scored on a Kaleigh Steverson RBI double. Two batters later, Maryanna Guy launched a two-run homer to left to make it 3-0.
The Blazers broke the game open in the second inning, sending 16 batters to the plate and scoring 10 runs on 11 hits. Highlights of the inning included an RBI double from Lopera, a two-run homer by Reagan Bryan, a two-run double from Lauren Dunbar, and RBI knocks from Steverson, Gracey Harbour, and others as the Blazers built a commanding 13-0 lead.
Dunbar added her third double of the game in the third inning to drive in another run and extend the lead to 14-0. Centenary pushed across a run in the fourth, but the Blazer pitching staff limited further damage.
AR Sharp earned the win, improving to 3-0 after allowing just one run on three hits over 3.2 innings with five strikeouts. Olivia Burns closed out the final 1.1 innings, striking out three.
Lopera led the way at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Dunbar recorded three doubles and three RBI, while Bryan and Guy each homered as part of the 18-hit outburst.
Belhaven returns to action next week as it continues its early-season slate hosting Millsaps for Riverside Rivalry action on Wednesday.
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